SMITH, Kenneth Hall

SMITH, Kenneth Hall – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWII
SERVICE NO : 434033
RANK : Leading Aircraftman
UNIT : 8 Service Flying Traning School
ENLISTMENT DATE : 9/10/1942
AGE : 18
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Esk, Queensland
RELIGION : Presbyterian
OCCUPATION : Bank Clerk
DATE OF DEATH : 26/07/1943
PLACE OF BURIAL : At Sea

MEMORIALS : Warwick State High School Roll of Honour 1939-1945, Warwick The Fallen 1939-1945, Warwick War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View this person’s Service File : SMITH, Kenneth Hall

NOTES : Kenneth was the third child of Rickard Woodcraft and Isabell Mitchell Smith of Dragon Street, Warwick. His father Richard was the Town Clerk of Warwick and a prominent member of the community.

Kenneth attended Warwick State High School attaining a scholarship to Scots College. He enjoyed success on the playing fields, excelling at football, tennis and cricket in his chosen position as slip fieldsman.

In 1939 he took part in an interstate tournament in Melbourne as a member of the Queensland Schoolboys’ Hockey Team.

On leaving school he joined the staff of the Commonwealth Bank in Warwick. He became a founding member of the Air Training Corps in Warwick and when he turned 18, he received his call up.

Two days before his nineteenth birthday he was flying as a trainee pilot when his plane crashed into the sea.

Despite large searches by sea and air no trace was found of the aircraft or the bodies of the two pilots aboard the plane.

At the time it was noted by a grieving community that Ken was the youngest from the Warwick district to die in WWII.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.